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E. P. H?. GAPRON, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 8-2,594, dated September 29, 1868.

IMPROVED LADDER.

dlgs tlgehule referat tu in time Estima `rtm't mit matting putt uf the rams.

TO ALLA WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, E. P. H. CAPRON, of Springfield, in the county of Clark, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the followingiis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specication, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention consists in a novel manner of constructing a combined fruit and step-ladder, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ladder, arranged for use as an ordinary ladder.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, 'arranged as a step-ladder.

Figure 3 is a per spective View of the platform detached.`

In constructing my improved ladder, I first make two short ladders, A and B, with the ends of the sidepieces projecting beyond the last round at 'one end, and being notched at their ends, as shown at c, figs. l and 2.

These two ladders I then-connect by means of a. round, b, which is secured upon the edges of the side-pieces of the ladder A by means of eyes or loops, e, which hold it firmly in place, the side-pieces of the other ladder, B, having elongated loops, o, attached, and enclosing the round, also, as shown'iin iig. 1.

The ladder A is made of such a width as to permit the other part B to fit in between its side-pieces, as

shown in fig. 1, and the rst round,f, in the' part B has its ends projecting outside of the side-pieces far enough to engage in .the notches c in the ends of the side-pieces of the part A, the notches c in the ends of the sidepieces of B at the same time engaging with the lirst round, 7L, of the part A.

The loops o permit the two parts A and B to be drawn endwise far enough to unlock the notches e from the rounds i andf, the pins t being removed for that purpose, when the two parts will turn on the round, b, as an axis, and may be folded flat together, or `set up as a step-ladder, as represented in fig. 2.

When the parts are united, asshown in iig. 1, it will be seen that the two parts A and B are very firmly and rigidly locke-d together, as much so as though the three rounds, f, 6, and h, were extended right through the side-pieces of both parts, and that, by simply removing the pins t, they can be instantly unlocked.

In order to enable it to be used withfacility as astep-ladder, I construct a platform, C, with a slotted bar, D, secured firmly te each side, as shown in iig. 3, this platform being of proper width to fit in between the sides of the two parts A and B. i f

When the parts are arranged as represented in tig. 2, this platform C is so' placed as to rest on the rounds h and f, with its slotted bars D embracing the round, 1:.

The platform C has a series of holes bored through'it, near eachend, through which pins,pt, are inserted, so as to be outside of the ronndsf and z, and thus prevent the parts A and B from spreading asunder. By

these means,'also, the platform C is held rmlytin place, and a'ords a secure footing for a person to stand upon in picking fruit, and all similar operations.

One of the special features of my improved ladder is the pivoting of the parts A and -B by the round, b, placed on the outside or edges of the side-pieces, which permits the two parte to be folded flat upon each other, thus rendering them far more convenient for shipping, handling, and packing away.

Having thus described my invention, what I.claim, is

1. A ladder, consisting of the parts A and B hinged together by the round, b, and having the side-rails of each part notched at their ends, so as to lock upon the rounds z. andf, in the manner shown and described.

2. Hnging the parts A and B'by means of the round, b, secureddto the edges of the side-rails thereof", by means of the eyes e and'loops o, substantially as,shown and described.

3. In combination with the parts A and B, hinged as described, the platform C,- provided with the slotted eide-bars D, and the series of holes for adjusting the spread of the parts A and B, substantially as described.

E. P. H. CAPRON.

Witnesses:

JAC. KREIDER Mownn, Gso. Mowsn. 

